Match Preview: Newcastle v Crystal Palace

Palace currently sit three points above the relegation zone, and will be looking to avenge the 3-0 defeat they suffered at Selhurst Park in December.

Goals from Yohan Cabaye, an own goal from Danny Gabbidon and a late penalty from Hatem Ben Arfa sealed a comfortable victory on on the road for United, sending them into the Christmas period full of festive cheer.

The Magpies, on the other hand, could rise to eighth with a win at the weekend and Alan Pardew's men will be seeking return to winning ways following last Saturday's narrow defeat at Fulham.

Follow Saturday's fixture right here on nufc.co.uk for live updates, on-the-whistle half-time and full-time reports and exclusive post-match reaction, or on Twitter at our relaunched account @NUFC.

STAT ATTACKCrystal Palace haven't registered a goal in their last six outings against the Magpies, while Newcastle have managed to bag just a solitary strike in their last five league games at St. James' Park. Though the statistical omens for a goal frenzy this weekend don't look particularly good, United will be buoyed by the fact they boast an superior overall record against the Eagles, winning 19 of their 31 meetings, compared to Palace's seven.

TICKET NEWSA small number of tickets for this Barclays Premier League fixture are still available. To secure your seat, click on the button below.

Crystal Palace - Leading goalscorer Marouane Chamakh misses out through a groin injury, while fellow front man Dwight Gayle is sidelined by an ankle complaint. Danny Gabbidon (knock) and Barry Bannan (illness) could return at St. James' Park.

A WORD FROM BOTH CAMPSAlan Pardew, Newcastle manager: "Palace had a good performance at Sunderland, and I don't expect them to be much different really. They will be fighting and scrapping, and Tony's teams are always very, very sure in terms of their jobs, and we need to come up with some more imagination than we did against Fulham, and some more cutting edge to our play. Most of our play was pretty good against Fulham, but the last third, unfortunately, wasn't good enough."

Tony Pulis, Crystal Palace manager: "Alan will have more control than people think. With technology today, you can always have your finger on the pulse. If he is watching the game from afar, as long as he has contact - which he will have with the coaching staff - then I am sure they would have sorted that. There are a lot of managers who sit on the bench and they don't move, there are others, and I am one of them, who get really involved in the game. It is different for horses for courses."

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DID YOU KNOW?Crystal Palace have scored the fewest number of goals in the Barclays Premier League so far this season, averaging just 0.65 goals per game. They have also only scored more than one goal in three matches this term, all at home.